https://www.inquirer.com/sixers/joel-embiid-gilbert-arena-team-usa-south-sudan-20240723.html
https://x.com/iam_Ayo/status/1815509848018034710
After Team USA’s close win over South Sudan in the lead up to the Paris Olympics, the focus was largely centered on the valiant effort of a little-known roster.
When former NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas spoke on the Olympic tune-up, he added comments that many online believed were xenophobic. “We got the males almost lost to some Africans,” Arenas said before making a disparaging gesture.
He also pulled in 76ers star Joel Embiid, who chose to play for USA Basketball over his native Cameroon (in addition to France), and referenced a movie centered on an American coach finding a basketball player in a Kenyan tribe. He later incorrectly referenced a movie about a Jamaican bobsled team.
“Man, Embiid over there throwing games for his cousins and [expletive],” Arenas said. “We wasn’t supposed to be losing to The Air Up There. Come on, man. Cool Runnings, we’re not supposed to be losing to the Cool Runnings team.”
Asked by Africa Basket about the comments, Embiid, who had not seen the clip, said he was disappointed that Arenas would speak ill of Africa in any way.
“Obviously, I don’t condone it,” Embiid said. “I’m African, first and foremost. I might be playing for Team USA, but I’m Cameroonian, first and foremost. I don’t know exactly what he said so I can’t comment on it. But if it was that negative, it’s just disappointing.”
Embiid, who didn’t play basketball until 15, continued to speak about what Africa has done for him and the players on South Sudan’s Olympic roster put together by former NBA player Luol Deng, who was born in what is now South Sudan.
“You see what African basketball has done for us to be in this position, to be able to make some sort of impact,” Embiid said. “Even the position that I am, still have a lot of impact where I’m from and the whole continent of Africa. And that’s never going to stop.”
by augustus624
31 Comments
Gracious response to a tasteless series of statements.
Based.
Well this hurts the narrative that Gilbert is a racist that this sub has been so eager to bring up whenever they can lol
I heard about his comments and from the reaction I thought they were a lot worst but I guess that’s just just the internet for you.
I actually wish Embid chose to play for Cameroon. Not sure why he wants to play for team USA.
I lol’d
@ Gilbert
Come on this is actually funny, the air up there is a crazy reference
Fuck Gilbert arenas
Dude this shouldn’t even be a post. I watched that video. Their podcast is 99% shits and giggles. It’s just shit talking to the max. These checks aren’t for your bank account, and stop expecting it to.
The people that think this is actually funny have absolutely zero perspective on what it’s like to be an immigrant facing xenophobia and racism. Especially when it’s targeted at their home country.
yea its funny if youre 12 years old
Gilbert Arenas is the dumb kid in the back of your high school class that won’t shut up. I guarantee he would’ve been held back 5x if he wasn’t a baller.
I forgot all about The Air up There. Loved that movie as a kid. The original Shake and bake.
Arenas is such a racist cunt
Good response. Fuck Gilbert
How the hell can you say your African when youre playing for the US. Its like the only thing they want from you
Gilbert Arenas has never made it out of the second round.
His highest career accolade is making 2nd Team All NBA one time…he completely ruined his career over some petty fuckshit.
Absolute clown, dude does not deserve a platform.
I hate Gilbert arenas. Love him in his prime, but as a person he annoys the hell out of me.
Good sentiment but it would be more meaningful if he was playing for Cameroon. Arenas is a clown though
Arenas is a clown. Wish he’d just go away
Let’s not act like Gilbert Arenas is smart or has some moral compass. He was basically kicked out of the league for his bullshit with another idiot in Crittendon . I live in DC and remember the hype around Gil and I never understood why he did what he did. To me he’s just an egomaniac and now that he has a platform , don’t be shocked when he says this kind of insensitive Xenophobic shit. But I’ll also admit there is weird tension in the black community between Africans and African Americans, always has been. Its not really talked about
Fuck gil
Gilbert arenas talks a lot, don’t need to cover everything he says, he’s usually wrong and trying to be entertaining
Gilbert is one of the few players to miss two clutch free throws in a playoff game after 22 year old LeBron trash talked him. He looked like he was gonna shit his pants.
You can’t talk that shit when that is prob your most popular highlight
Arenas has some self hate going on didn’t he make some cooment about a black actress before. Can’t remember her name.
It’s Gilbert Arenas. Who cares?
Why is everybody taking gilbert seriously? Everybody knows hes a clown who make joke and every once in a while makes good points about the NBA.
Why are you playing for US Joel?
Dude can’t win a fight without a gun. Also dunno why he had to say these stupid comments about Africa.
I’m Cameroonian, first and foremost, alright but you told them you would never play on the Cameroon national team. Why was that?
What’s worse, speaking ill of Africa or abandoning Africa to medal chase?
Normally I think this argument is total bullshit, but this Gilbert Arenas crap is the one time it actually applies:
**Imagine if a white person said what Arenas said.** If JJ Redick was on his podcast calling all Africans cousins, calling South Sudan’s team “The Air Up There” he’d rightly be banned from ESPN, blacklisted from official NBA events, etc.
I point that out not to whine that white people have it harder with cancel culture, but to point out that Gilbert should absolutely face that same level of criticism for his xenophobia. Dude is a clown.